Yellow Pages are
always an essential piece of self- storage marketing. But are you reaping
all the benefits that you could from your Yellow Pages? Following are a
few tips we've gathered from some experts in the field.
Additional
listings:
- Moving Supplies - People who are moving need boxes, tape, and
other items that you probably sell. Plus, they often find that they need
storage space, so if they've bought supplies from you, they will rent
from you. (This listing might be under Boxes or Packing Supplies.)
- Record Storage is a great listing. These renters stay about
8-10 years. And, when they start renting with you, they realize how
handy you are and start storing lots of stuff besides records. (See also
Business Records Stored, Office Records Stored, or Storage-Records.
Naming Your
Facility: Try to choose a name that gets you one of the first three
listings alphabetically. Be creative. For example, "Storage Ranch" is
buried pretty far down and you may not get the calls. In some areas, "A
Storage Ranch" will get you the very first listing. If you do this, also
take a listing under "Storage Ranch" for people looking for you who don't
realize your name begins with an "A." Lots of people look at your very
expensive display ad. But, lots also go down the alphabetical listings.
Don't call your business Zydeco Self Storage. Great music; bad
name.
New
Facilities: When you're building a new facility, get your listing in
the Yellow Pages as soon as you can---even before you will be open. Yellow
Pages play such a big part of customers finding your business (typically
about 70%) that you don't want to chance being open months before the next
book comes out. Get a phone number and put a recording on it that tells
callers when you expect to be open---and any other good things they should
know about your upcoming storage place. |